The 2023 Class III Long Island Championship was last Friday at James M. Shuart Stadium, at Hofstra University, and featured East Islip and South Side.

The Nassau champs, South Side, came into the title game with a 10-1 record, and the Suffolk champs, East Islip, headed into the championship bout at 9-2. East Islip beat Harborfields 35-12 and Westhampton Beach 17-0 in the first two rounds of the playoffs, then defeated Sayville 17-7 at Stony Brook to win the Suffolk County championship en route to their trip to the winner-take-all Nassau-Suffolk contest to determine the Long Island crown at Hofstra.

East Islip drew first blood to take a 7-0 lead. They scored only 11 seconds into the game on their first play from scrimmage when Thomas Costarelli threw an 80-yard touchdown toss. Costarelli completed it to Matt Ferrara, who hustled his way all the way to the end zone, ensued by an extra point by Anthony Mariani.

Just a couple minutes later, East Islip recovered a South Side onside kick at their opponent’s 44-yard line. After driving the ball well on the possession, just a few yards from the goal line Thomas Costarelli threw a three-yard score to Matt McIntee. East Islip’s lead was 13-0 in the first quarter.

Towards the end of the opening period, South Side made it a one-possession game after they scored on a rushing touchdown from running back Justin Singh. The score was 13-7 with 2:31 remaining in the opening quarter.

Late in the second quarter, four East Islip defensemen combined to sack quarterback Owen West, pushing Southside out of field goal range. The quartet of Charlie Heffernan, Jaden Schmidt, Sebastian Regis, and Niko Meyers combined to make it fourth down and 26, and South Side punted to give East Islip the ball at their own 34-yard line with 2:47 to go in the second.

Looking for some insurance points prior to halftime, Anthony Mariani attempted a 29-yard field goal mere seconds prior to the clock expiring, but missed, and the score held at 13-7 after 24 minutes. South Side received the ball in the second half and after a long drive that they took deep into their own territory, they scored on a rushing touchdown on their opening possession of the third and took the lead for the first time of the evening.

South Side led 14-13. In the fourth quarter, with 5:49 to go, East Islip took the lead and never relinquished it. Costarelli hit McIntee with a 22-yard pass that his receiver took into the end zone for 6 points, giving his team 19, and the score was upheld.

The final score was East Islip 19, South Side 14. East Islip football is the 2023 Long Island champion, and it’s the second LIC victory in school history!